About

The fifth Derby Book Festival will be held from Friday 31 May to Saturday 8 June 2019.

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A message from

Liz Fothergill

Being Chair of Derby Book Festival is a great joy and a privilege. We have been overwhelmed by the support we have received from across the city for our Festivals and we are delighted by their success. The city certainly seems to have embraced the Festival and it is already established as an annual event in the cultural calendar.

Our programme is aimed at appealing to all ages and to offer a diverse range of events, including some with a Derby related theme: railways, local history and architecture, cycling, birding, cricket and even real ale.

We are set up as a charity with a small but dedicated team which organises the Festival and the support of a large and committed group of volunteers. However, we could not stage such an ambitious programme without the generosity and support of Derby’s arts and educational organisations who provide us with venues as well as their staff and expertise. We are also grateful to Derby’s business community and to the other local organisations which provide funding, sponsorship and support in kind.

In particular we would like to thank Arts Council England, Foundation Derbyshire and the University of Derby for their on-going support.

A book festival which brings Derby’s residents together in a love of books and also inspires new readers to appreciate the pleasure and power of reading.

Festival Organisers and Founders

Jenny and Sian

Jenny Denton and Sian Hoyle set up the Festival in February 2014. Jenny had previously worked in community development and corporate social responsibility and Sian’s background is in marketing and events management.